The city's Tax Collector is responsible for collecting taxes on real estate, cars and vehicles, and on personal…More property. The City Council sets the city's tax rate each year, which is so many dollars per $1,000 of property value. For example, today the tax rate is 20.96, that means if a person owns a house worth $1,000, he or she pays $20.96 in taxes.</p> <p>The value of a car is set by the state each year, and the tax collector taxes cars based on the city's tax rate and the state's value for each car. Late tax payments are charged 18 percent interest by state law. State law makes it the tax payer's responsibility to pay taxes, whether or not they receive a bill.</p> <p>Property taxes are do in July, October, January and April. Motor vehicle taxes are due on July and January. Water and sewer bills are paid each quarter.</p>